Swim England Teaching and Education Conference

1 October 2018
Teaching Swimming

The Swim England Teaching and Education Conference 2018 took place on Friday 30 November at the Staverton Estate in Daventry, UK. Dates for the Swim England Teaching and Education Conference 2019 will be announced soon. Be the first to know – sign up to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About

The Swim England Teaching and Education Conference is a superb, new annual event bringing together more than 300 people to network and discuss key issues relating to swimming.

It has been developed collaboratively between Swim England’s Learn to Swim experts and educator workforce.

The Teaching and Education Conference is ideal for teachers delivering the Learn to Swim Programme, tutors, CPD presenters, assessors, and approved centres. Find out below what you can expect from the day.

Workshops

Click or tap on the headings below to find out more about the workshops being held on the day.

Workshop 1: 10:15am-11:15am – all to attend

Developing swimmer wellbeing

Delivered by Adrian Bethune (@AdrianBethune), Founder of Teachappy, primary school teacher and author.

This workshop will help you develop the mental well-being of your swimmers, help them grow a positive mind-set and encourage them to step outside of their comfort zone; all with minimum anxiety and stress.

It will also help you to develop a simple technique to teach your swimmers how to savour the positives from their swimming experiences and end their lessons on a high.

Aimed at: Swimming teachers and educators

Workshop 2: 11:40am-12:40pm

Choose from one of the below on your booking form:

Integrating participants with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

Delivered by Fiona Flynn: Swim England Tutor Training Manager.

This workshop will explore a range of needs your participants may have in mainstream swimming lessons. By the end of the workshop you will have a better understanding of how you can adapt your swimming teaching to meet participants’ needs.

Aimed at: Swimming teachers and key centre contact

Appropriate handling techniques for swimming teachers

Delivered by Claire Wilson: Swim England Tutor Training Manager

This workshop will look at appropriate handling techniques for swimming teachers, with specific reference to working with swimmers with special educational needs and disabilities.

It will refresh and reinforce good practice, as well as helping you understand the safeguarding implications or working across a broad spectrum of needs.

Aimed at: Swimming teachers, educators and key centre contacts

Developing teacher and educator wellbeing

Delivered by Adrian Bethune: Founder of Teachappy, primary school teacher and author

Evidence shows that happier teachers teach better, and have swimmers or learners that are also happier and more productive. This workshop will encourage you to take part in some simple mindfulness practices which will help you rewire any negative biases you may have, as well as developing your ability to laugh more often; reducing your tensions and stresses along the way!

Aimed at: Swimming teachers, educators and key centre contacts

Teaching breaststroke and butterfly through the early stages of the Learn to Swim Framework

Breaststroke and butterfly are often said to be the cause of blockages in Learn to Swim Stage 4 slowing progression to Stage 5.

This workshop will give you both the knowledge and confidence of how to teach both strokes in Stages 1 through to 4, allowing you to free up spaces and reduce those stumbling blocks and get your swimmers to the next stage.

Every year there are around 300 fatal accidental drownings in and around UK waters. More than 45 per cent of those people don’t intend to enter the water.

Core Aquatic Skills form the building blocks to water competency, the concept of making people safe in and around water.

This workshop explores the skills required to make someone safe in and around water, where those skills appear in the Learn to Swim Programme, and what you can do to integrate water safety into your lessons year-round.

Aimed at: Swimming teachers, educators and key centre contacts.

Workshop 3: 13:50am-14:50pm

Choose from one of the below on your booking form:

Practical guide for teaching early stages of the Learn to Swim Programme in deep water

Delivered by Rachel Hyde: Swim England educator and swimming teacher.

This workshop is designed to give you practical information and advice on how to deliver the early stages of the Learn to Swim Framework in deep water. The workshop will explore health and safety considerations, equipment needs and the type of activities that can be used to create a fun based lesson for all.

This workshop explores the barriers to participation that exist for some of the hardest to reach young people, converting ‘inactive’ youngsters into ‘active’ ones; creating a ‘habit for life’ along the way. Liz has a real passion for supporting others, helping them achieve and be the best that they can be. Liz is now a board member for Disability Sports Wales, following retirement from competing in 2016 – and founder of The Disability People – an organisation dedicated to supporting the recruitment of people with disabilities. She’ll be sharing some of her experiences of working with young people, and help you develop your own strategies for ‘enthusing the future’.

This workshop will explore a range of needs your participants may have in mainstream swimming lessons. By the end of the workshop you’ll have a better understanding of how you can adapt your swimming teaching to meet participants’ needs.

Breaststroke and butterfly are often said to be the cause of blockages in Learn to Swim Stage 4 slowing progression to Stage 5.

This workshop will give you both the knowledge and confidence of how to teach both strokes in Stages 1 through to 4, allowing you to free up spaces and reduce those stumbling blocks and get your swimmers to the next stage.

Aimed at: Swimming teachers, educators and key centre contacts.

Bookings are now closed

Further Information

Click or tap on one of the headings below to find out more about the conference.

Stalls

A variety of stalls will be available on the day for you to browse, gather information and ask any questions. This will include representation from a variety of Swim England departments and commercial organisations from across the sector.

Getting there

Train

If you choose to travel by train, Northampton and Rugby mainline stations are approximately 12 miles away.

You can also travel to Long Buckby which is six miles from the venue – direct from Birmingham New Street station. From here it’s a 10 minute taxi ride.

Where do I go on arrival?

Make your way to the County Suite entrance where Swim England colleagues will be there to greet you and guide you to registration.

What accessibility is available?

Ramps and a lift are available to access workshop rooms, and a hearing loop is available for those who need it.

What if the workshop I’d like to book is full?

Workshops are available on a first come first served basis. Options may be limited if you do not book early.

What if I don’t remember which workshops I selected?

On your confirmation email the workshops you have chosen will be listed. Workshop information will also be included in your conference booklet.

What if I’d like to change the workshops I have chosen?

The workshops you have chosen at the time of booking will be allocated to you and we’re unable to make changes. Each workshop will have limited seating for the specified total of delegates booked onto each workshop.

What if I have a dietary requirement?

The venue restaurant are equipped to cater for any dietary requirement so there will be something available for all.

Will Swim England teams be there on the day?

Members of Swim England Workforce Support, Learn to Swim and Swim England Qualifications teams will be in attendance.

Will I be able to provide feedback on the day?

We value all feedback, so after the event you’ll be emailed a survey covering all aspects of the conference.

Will I get the chance to ask questions on the day?

Swim England colleagues will be available throughout the day. There will also be an opportunity to post questions via an app. To download the app, search for Slido (available for Apple and play stores on your mobile device). Further information will be given on the day.

What can I share on social media about the conference?

If you’re coming along to the conference – we would love you to share your experiences of the day on your own social media feeds – whether on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat etc. Use the hashtag #SwimConf18 in all your posts. You can tag in @SwimEngland and any of the keynote speakers. You can also share pictures from the day.

I need to cancel my place. Can I receive a refund?

If you cancel your booking before midnight 1 November 2018 a refund will be issued minus a £20 admin fee. After this time no refunds will be issued.